Pros Pick: Henderson vs. Machida

By: Mike SloanFeb 22, 2013

Dan
Henderson has won his last four fights, finishing three of them. |
Cliff Welch/Icon SMI

Two former world champions will lock horns on Saturday, when
Lyoto
Machida meets Dan
Henderson in the UFC
157 “Rousey vs. Carmouche” co-main event at the Honda Center in
Anaheim, Calif. Their matchup brings with it significant title
implications at 205 pounds, where a number of qualified fighters
are vying for the next crack at light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

Sherdog.com touched base with a number of professional fighters and
trainers to gauge their opinions on the UFC 157 co-headliner:

Benji
Radach: I think I can already feel the tremors and
seismic waves of that right hand. “Hendo” wins.

Mike
Ciesnolevicz: Henderson is one of the all-time greats
in MMA. I would go as far as to say top 5 ever, but everyone gets
old at some point. I think the long layoff and the knee injury will
be hard to overcome at his age, especially facing a guy like
Machida, who is in his prime. Lyoto has amazing hand and foot speed
to go along with his fakes. Machida is great at getting people out
of position and then attacks from angles they are not used to
seeing. Machida karate dominates this fight standing. I do not see
it being a whole lot different from the Randy
Couture fight. I’m not sure if Machida will finish “Hendo,” but
he should be able to outpoint him pretty decisively. Karate isn't
back; it never left.

Keith
Berry: I’ve sparred with a lot of big names in MMA,
but “Hendo” is by far one of the hardest hitters around. I believe
he will find his range and land that nice overhand in the third to
put Machida down.

Steven
Siler: Machida is going to use his footwork and land
the Machida kick to KO Henderson.

Chris
Clements: This is a really tough pick for me. I have
sparred briefly with both of them. I have never been hit by anyone
as hard as Henderson hit me, but Machida is almost impossible to
hit with any traditional striking method. Logically, I think
Machida wins a decision because he is too elusive, but my gut says
Henderson simply because he is Dan Henderson.

Mitch
Clarke: I’m going to go out on a limb and pick
Henderson by TKO or KO brought on by a “Hendo” right hand.

J.J.
Ambrose: Lyoto is the modern-day Bruce Lee: elusive,
uses all the martial arts and is just an all-around humble badass.
Henderson is old-school, gritty, the consummate underdog that
always seems to defy age and odds, a man I would never bet against.
Henderson wins a hard decision in a great fight.

Jeff
Hougland: I hope Henderson takes it, but I think
Machida will win.

Max
Holloway: Man, this is a hard one. I’m not going to
choose on this one because I believe this fight depends on who
fights his fight. It’s going to be amazing.

File
Photo

Machida is 9-1 in judges’ decisions.

Igor
Araujo: I have a lot respect for both guys, but I
think Henderson can’t touch Lyoto. It will be almost like
Machida-Bader. Machida wins by KO.

Caros
Fodor: Have to go with Henderson on this. Lyoto is
good, but Henderson has a great chin and great wrestling. Although
I think it will be hard for Dan to get a hold of Lyoto, when he
does, he will get him down. Also, Dan has that right hand, which
can end anyone.

Johny
Hendricks: This is a tough one. I want to say Dan
because he won’t chase Lyoto like he wants. Dan is going to hold
his position and KO him; then again, you have Lyoto, who is younger
and in better shape and might get Dan to chase him or dance around
him. I will go with Dan Henderson. I think he will get his hand
raised at the end of that fight.

Travis
Lutter: I am going with Dan. Lyoto is hard to catch,
but I think Dan will catch him.

Javier
Vazquez: I’m rooting for “Hendo,” but I think
Machida’s footwork is going to give him issues. Machida will
outpoint Henderson in a not-so-thrilling fight. I think Machida is
going to beat Henderson by decision.

Travis
Wiuff: Never bet against Dan. I’m taking Henderson to
win a very tough fight by decision.

Jacob
Volkmann: That one is a hard one. I say Machida wins
by unanimous decision.

Alan
Belcher: I love “Hendo.” I’m a huge fan. I pick
“Hendo” by decision. Hoping for an exciting fight.

Colton
Smith: Dan wins by utter ’Merica domination. Lyoto
will be tough in the early going, but pressure against the fence
and a big H-bomb will bring Lyoto’s night to an end.

John
Gunderson: I’ve got Henderson, but he needs to have
good cardio because Machida’s constant backing up and counter
fighting attacks can damage and wear a fighter down quick.
Henderson obviously has the power and wrestling advantage.

Bristol
Marunde: Henderson has enough experience in the cage
for a whole generation of fighters, but that won’t be enough to
face and chase the elusive Machida. Henderson isn’t quite fast
enough to land the H-bomb of a right hand. Machida might be boring,
but he is equally difficult to fight. Machida wins by KO.

Zach
Makovsky: Lyoto has too much movement and variety in
his striking for Henderson to deal with. I see Machida getting a
late second-round or third-round finish.

Mac
Danzig: Both these guys are amazing fighters, and the
style matchup is an interesting one. Unfortunately, I don’t know
who’s going to win because I have not yet learned to use the iChing
to predict the outcome of exact events in the future. This fight
is, in many Internet MMA enthusiasts’ minds, a battle between urine
therapy and testosterone replacement therapy. Which is the superior
method of supplementation? Will future MMA professionals be lined
up at their doctor’s offices after a late night of partying in
hopes that their testosterone levels are low enough at that moment
to warrant an exemption, allowing them to receive legal
testosterone injections? Or, will they be rising early in the
morning with an eye dropper full of urine in hand while reading
Vedic scriptures as they ascend into peak physical and mental
condition? Only time will tell. The future of MMA hangs in the
balance. Be prepared.

Brock
Jardine: I am really a fan of both these guys. Both
are role models and champions of the sport. I am going with
Henderson because I’m hoping him and Chael will fight for the title
and help promote and save Olympic wrestling.